Page 53 of No Sweet Goodbyes

“He’s the only reason I made it through my brother’s death and every deployment that Linc went through. I don’t know what I’d do without him.”

My arm tightens around her, and guilt flashes through my chest.

I remember the way she looked when we came home.

The way she broke, and finding out that Stryker was there for her before she even knew about my existence… it burns in a way I’ll never be able to find words for.

I have to tell her I’m leaving, and I have to ask her to wait.

I have to do the one thing that I know will destroy whatever is growing between us.

But as the sun sets and her very existence eases the chaos inside me, I chicken out.

Later that night, when she’s asleep in my bed, with her hair spread out on my pillow, I can’t rest.

“Tomorrow,” I lie. “I’ll tell her I’m leaving tomorrow.”

Maybe then I’ll be able to chase these ghosts away.

18

EMMA

I really have to pee, but there’s a naked man holding on to my body too tightly for me to move. “Wake up, Dom.” I grunt and then breathe a little easier when he lets go of the grip he has on my stomach.

By the time I make it back to the bedroom after brushing my teeth and taking care of business, he is watching me from under the blanket.

“What are you doing?” he asks when I open the drawer I’ve started to leave clothes in.

“Getting dressed.” I point out the window with my eyes. “I have to run before work. I need the cardio.”

“I’ve got cardio for you.” Dom winks at me and I huff at the terrible pickup line.

Still, I shut the drawer and bite my lip. “Does that ever actually work?”

Dom leans over the edge of the bed and grabs my hand. “I don’t know. I’ll tell you after I tie you up.”

With a smile, I let him pull me onto the bed. “You still haven’t done that, you know.”

“Tsk. I need to buy a new rope, probably. One that won’t leave a bruise on your arms.” He kisses my hand. “Or your legs.” His hand moves down the outside of my thigh, sending a shiver through that side of my body.

Dom kisses my neck, giving me a reason to arch my back so that his body touches mine. When I do, I feel his hard length pressing into my stomach.

“Do you want it fast or slow, Emma?” His voice brushes against my skin, and I can’t concentrate on anything other than the way he makes me feel. Electricity dances along my spine and I can’t do anything until he pulls back and presses a soft kiss to my lips.

“Yes,” I say.

“That’s not an answer.” He laughs, moving his hands up and down my skin, making it impossible to form a coherent thought.

“Yes.”

Dom wraps one hand around my neck, pressing just tight enough that I feel him without cutting off my ability to breathe. “I’ll just have to give you everything, now, won’t I?”

A mew. I let out a mew, like a kitten, and then I tilt my head as far back as I can manage with his hand wrapped around my neck and give him exactly what he wants.

“Look at me, Emma.” I open my eyes to see him staring down at me with his tongue touching his top lip. “Perfect.”

He keeps one hand on my neck but moves the other down and uses it to brush his cock against my core.

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